“Leadership is a relationship through which one person influences the behaviour or actions of other people through vision.” – Mullins, 2013.
To be successful, what does a business need? Strong leadership ranks pretty high. A strong leader should be confident in their vision and share this vision with their team so it can be achieved. Business owners with an ability to paint a picture of where the business is heading, will bring about increased performance and growth.
Get the Team on board
If staff members are aware of where your business needs to go, they will work together, aiming for the same outcome. Setting goals and communicating clearly about what you expect your employees to do, will be a massive benefit to your business. Of course tasks and duties can change over time based on internal and external factors (e.g. technological changes), however keeping goals up to date will make sure nobody feels overwhelmed in realising your vision.
Once you have set the rules and explained how you expect others to follow them, stick to them yourself so you are leading by example. Sharing information with staff and allowing them to play a part in business decisions means you are adopting best practices for your business. Offering staff the right training and developing your staff shows commitment and remember that one day, one of your staff members could become your business’s next great leader.
Should you worry about your leadership skills?
Think back to a time when you came across a poor leader and what traits you noticed? Was it micro-management or poor communication in what was expected or perhaps poor feedback on work done or maybe a leader who passed the buck? Resignations and low team morale are a cost to your business and a sign that leadership needs work. Most of a leader’s actions have an impact on the rest of the team so it’s really important to consider how you are as a leader to see how you can get the most from your employees and ultimately make your business a success.
How do I polish my leadership skills?
Leading a business is not easy and none of us are perfect; even the best Leaders recognise the need to keep working on their skills. Don’t panic if you feel you are slightly lacking in leadership or management experience, these skills can be learned and perfected. I offer 1 to 1 and group business coaching, covering weekly strategies, goal setting, critiquing your current practices in place and looking at proven business models including entrepreneurial skills required to expand your knowledge and skills. With you, I will aim to catapult your business forward and achieve your goals.
